Optical-fiber array method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for forming an optical-fiber-array assembly, which include providing a plurality of optical fibers including a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, providing a fiber-array plate that includes a first surface and a second surface, connecting the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate, transmitting a plurality of optical signals through the optical fibers into the fiber-array plate at the first surface of the fiber-array plate, and emitting from the second surface of the fiber-array plate a composite output beam having light from the plurality of optical signals. Optionally, the first surface of the fiber-array plate includes indicia configured to assist in the alignment of the plurality of optical fibers on the first surface of the fiber-array plate. In some embodiments, the second surface of the fiber-array plate includes a plurality of beam-shaping optics configured to shape the composite output beam.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention is related to:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,539,231 titled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATINGCONTROLLED-LINEWIDTH LASER-SEED-SIGNALS FOR HIGH-POWERED FIBER-LASERAMPLIFIER SYSTEMS” that issued May 26, 2009 to Eric C. Honea et al.,

U.S. Pat. No. 7,471,705 titled “ULTRAVIOLET LASER SYSTEM AND METHODHAVING WAVELENGTH IN THE 200-NM RANGE” that issued Dec. 30, 2008 toDavid C. Gerstenberger et al.,

U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,561 titled “FIBER- OR ROD-BASED OPTICAL SOURCEFEATURING A LARGE-CORE, RARE-EARTH-DOPED PHOTONIC-CRYSTAL DEVICE FORGENERATION OF HIGH-POWER PULSED RADIATION AND METHOD” that issued Jun.24, 2008 to Fabio Di Teodoro et al.,

U.S. Pat. No. 7,671,337 titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POINTING A LASERBEAM” that issued Mar. 2, 2010 to Steven C. Tidwell,

U.S. Pat. No. 7,199,924 titled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SPECTRAL-BEAMCOMBINING OF HIGH-POWER FIBER LASERS,” which issued on Apr. 3, 2007 toAndrew J. W. Brown et al.,

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/565,619 (which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 7,768,700 on Aug. 3, 2010) titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICALGAIN FIBER HAVING SEGMENTS OF DIFFERING CORE SIZES” filed on Nov. 30,2006 by Matthias P. Savage-Leuchs,

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/688,854 (which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 7,835,608 on Nov. 16, 2010) filed Mar. 20, 2007 by John D. Minellyet al., titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL DELIVERY FIBER HAVINGCLADDING WITH ABSORBING REGIONS”,

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/018,193 (which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 7,872,794 on Jan. 18, 2011) titled “HIGH-ENERGY EYE-SAFE PULSEDFIBER AMPLIFIERS AND SOURCES OPERATING IN ERBIUM'S L-BAND” filed Jan.22, 2008 by John D. Minelly et al.,

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/291,031 titled “SPECTRAL-BEAMCOMBINING FOR HIGH-POWER FIBER-RING-LASER SYSTEMS” filed Feb. 17, 2009by Eric C. Honea et al.,

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/624,327 (which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 8,441,718 on May 14, 2013) titled “SPECTRALLY BEAM COMBINED LASERSYSTEM AND METHOD AT EYE-SAFER WAVELENGTHS” filed Nov. 23, 2009 by RoyD. Mead,

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/793,508 (which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 8,355,608 on Jan. 15, 2013) titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN-LINEFIBER-CLADDING-LIGHT DISSIPATION” filed Jun. 3, 2010 by Yongdan Hu,

U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/263,736 filed Nov. 23, 2009 byMatthias P. Savage-Leuchs et al., titled “Q-switched oscillatorseed-source for MOPA laser illuminator method and apparatus”,

U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/343,948 filed on Apr. 12, 2010,titled “High Beam Quality and High Average Power from Large-Core-SizeOptical-Fiber Amplifiers; Signal and Pump Mode-Field Adaptor forDouble-Clad Fibers and Associated Method” by Matthias Savage-Leuchs etal., andU.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/343,945 filed on Apr. 12, 2010,titled “Apparatus for Optical Fiber Management and Cooling” by YongdanHu et al., which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to optical waveguides, and moreparticularly to methods and apparatus for mechanically and opticallycoupling optical-fiber arrays to fabricate a unified structure thatforms a composite output light beam from the light of a plurality ofoptical waveguides such as optical fibers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing optical-fiber arrays are generally difficult to manufacturebecause of the required alignment precision between fibers. Manyconventional fiber-array systems, like V-groove-based substrates thathold an array of fibers, also have limited power-handling capability. Inaddition, for applications such as spectral-beam combining, existingoptical-fiber arrays present excessive optical aberrations from theirextended source of light.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,275 (hereinafter, “Sezerman et al.”), titled “STRESSRELIEF IN FIBRE OPTIC ARRAYS”, issued Jun. 6, 2006, and is incorporatedherein by reference. Sezerman et al. describe a mechanism for achievingsymmetrical stress loads on operating optical fibers held in fiber-opticarrays that includes, in one embodiment, the provision of a pair ofnon-operating or dummy fibers, each located outboard of the outermost orcurb fibers of the array. All of the fibers, whether operating or dummy,are held in corresponding grooves in a substrate.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,390 (hereinafter, “Anderson et al.”), titled“V-GROOVE ADAPTERS FOR INTERCONNECTING OPTICAL CONDUCTORS”, issued Jun.11, 2002, and is incorporated herein by reference. Anderson et al.describe a V-groove adapter for interconnecting optical conductors thatincludes V-grooves that are precisely aligned with respect to oneanother to provide a desired alignment of the respective cores of theoptical conductors received within the respective V-grooves.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,738,751 (hereinafter, “Minden et al.”), titled“ALL-FIBER LASER COUPLER WITH HIGH STABILITY”, issued Jun. 15, 2010, andis incorporated herein by reference. Minden et al. describe a pluralityof optical fibers arranged in a close-packed hexagonal array having1+3n(n+1) fibers with (3/2)(n²−n)+3 interferometrically dark fibers and(3/2)(n²+3n)−2 light fibers, where n is an integer greater than or equalto 1. Each optical fiber has a first end and a second end. The pluralityof optical fibers are fused together along a section of each opticalfiber proximate the first end of each optical fiber to form a fusedsection having a fiber axis. The fused section of the plurality ofoptical fibers is tapered to form a tapered region. A facet is at an endof the fused section. The facet is disposed in a direction perpendicularto the fiber axis.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,436 titled “Multilayer dielectric diffractiongratings” issued May 25, 1999 to Perry et al., and is incorporatedherein by reference. This patent describes the design and fabrication ofdielectric grating structures with high diffraction efficiency. Thegratings have a multilayer structure of alternating index dielectricmaterials, with a grating structure on top of the multilayer, and obtaina diffraction grating of adjustable efficiency, and variable opticalbandwidth.

Other patents that can be used with or in the present invention includeU.S. Pat. No. 6,172,812 (hereinafter, “Haaland et al.”), titled“ANTI-REFLECTION COATINGS AND COATED ARTICLES”, issued Jan. 9, 2001;U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,197 (hereinafter, “Okuda et al.”), titled “OPTICALFIBER COUPLER, A PROCESS FOR FABRICATING THE SAME AND AN OPTICALAMPLIFIER USING THE SAME”, issued Jun. 18, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,779(hereinafter, “Drouart et al.”), titled “BUTT WELDING OPTICAL FIBERPREFORMS WITH A PLASMA TORCH”, issued Jan. 30, 2001; U.S. Pat. No.7,416,347 (hereinafter, “Livingston et al.”), titled “OPTICAL FIBERARRAY CONNECTIVITY SYSTEM WITH INDICIA TO FACILITATE CONNECTIVITY INFOUR ORIENTATIONS FOR DUAL FUNCTIONALITY”, issued Aug. 26, 2008; U.S.Pat. No. 7,707,541 (hereinafter, “Abrams et al.”), titled “SYSTEMS,MASKS, AND METHODS FOR PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY”, issued Apr. 27, 2010; U.S.Pat. No. 6,614,965 (hereinafter, “Yin”), titled “EFFICIENT COUPLING OFOPTICAL FIBER TO OPTICAL COMPONENT”, issued Sep. 2, 2003; U.S. Pat. No.7,128,943 (hereinafter, “Djeu”), titled “METHODS FOR FABRICATING LENSESAT THE END OF OPTICAL FIBERS IN THE FAR FIELD OF THE FIBER APERTURE”,issued Oct. 31, 2006; U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,117 (hereinafter, “Heidenhainet al.”), titled “OPTICAL DIFFRACTION GRID”, issued Apr. 17, 1973; U.S.Pat. No. 4,895,790 (hereinafter, “Swanson et al.”), titled“HIGH-EFFICIENCY, MULTILEVEL, DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL ELEMENTS”, issued Jan.23, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,796 (hereinafter, “Takada et al.”), titled“DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL ELEMENT”, issued Nov. 23, 2004; U.S. Pat. No.6,958,859 (hereinafter, “Hoose et al.”), titled “GRATING DEVICE WITHHIGH DIFFRACTION EFFICIENCY”, issued Oct. 25, 2005; U.S. Pat. No.7,680,170 (hereinafter, “Hu et al.”), titled “COUPLING DEVICES ANDMETHODS FOR STACKED LASER EMITTER ARRAYS”, issued Mar. 16, 2010; whichare each incorporated herein by reference. Each of these referencesdescribes optical systems and/or components that can be combined withand/or used in various embodiments of the present invention.

There is a need for an improved optical-fiber array method andapparatus, particularly optical-fiber arrays having improved powerhandling and functionality.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the present invention provides an apparatus thatincludes a plurality of optical fibers including a first optical fiberand a second optical fiber, wherein the first optical fiber isconfigured to transmit a first optical signal, and wherein the secondoptical fiber is configured to transmit a second optical signal, and afiber-array plate (e.g., in some embodiments, a monolithic glass orfused-quartz plate) configured to receive the plurality of opticalsignals from the plurality of optical fibers and emit a composite outputbeam (in some embodiments, the composite output beam includes aplurality of output beams), wherein the fiber-array plate includes afirst surface and a second surface, wherein the plurality of opticalfibers are configured to connect to the first surface of the fiber-arrayplate (e.g., in some embodiments, the plurality of optical fibers arebutt welded to the first surface of the fiber-array plate). In someembodiments, the first surface of the fiber-array plate includes indiciaconfigured to assist in aligning the plurality of optical fibers on thefiber-array plate. In some embodiments, the apparatus includesbeam-shaping structures (e.g., lenslets and/or diffractive surface orvolume gratings) configured to shape the plurality of emitted outputbeams).

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method thatincludes providing a plurality of optical fibers including a firstoptical fiber and a second optical fiber, providing a fiber-array plate,wherein the fiber-array plate includes a first surface and a secondsurface, connecting the plurality of optical fibers to the first surfaceof the fiber-array plate (e.g., by fusing, butt welding, or the like),transmitting a plurality of optical signals through the plurality ofoptical fibers and into the fiber-array plate at the first surface ofthe fiber-array plate, and emitting a composite output beam (in someembodiments, the emitting of the composite output beam includes emittinga plurality of output beams) from the second surface of the fiber-arrayplate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Each of the items shown in the following brief description of thedrawings represents some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1A1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber arrayassembly 101.1 having equal-spaced fiber connections to a base plate110.

FIG. 1A2 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber arrayassembly 101.2 having unequal-spaced fiber connections to a base plate110.

FIG. 1B1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber arrayassembly 102.1.

FIG. 1B2 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber arrayassembly 102.2.

FIG. 1C1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber arrayassembly 103.1.

FIG. 1C2 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 103.2.

FIG. 1D is a diagram of an overall system 10 that includes a pluralityof assemblies including an optical-fiber-array assembly (OFAA) 104.

FIG. 2A is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 201.

FIG. 2B is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 202.

FIG. 2C is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 203.

FIG. 2D is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 204.

FIG. 2E is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 205.

FIG. 2F is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 206.

FIG. 2G1 is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 207.

FIG. 2G2 is a schematic side view of assembly 207 of FIG. 2G1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 301.

FIG. 3B1 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly302.1.

FIG. 3B2 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly302.2.

FIG. 3C1 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly3030.

FIG. 3C2 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly3031.

FIG. 3D is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 304.

FIG. 3E is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 305that includes a curved second surface 315.

FIG. 4A is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 401.

FIG. 4B is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 402.

FIG. 4C1 is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly403.1.

FIG. 4C2 is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly403.2.

FIG. 4D is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 404.

FIG. 4E is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 405.

FIG. 4F is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 406.

FIG. 4G is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 407.

FIG. 5A1 is a schematic plan view of a spectral beam combiner 500.1 thatincludes an optical-fiber-array assembly 501.

FIG. 5A2 is a schematic plan view of a spectral beam combiner 500.2 thatincludes an optical-fiber-array assembly 501.

FIG. 5A3 is a schematic perspective view of a spectral beam combiner500.2 that includes an optical-fiber-array assembly 501.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a spectral-beam-combining ring-lasersystem 502 that uses in-line isolators to help ensure unidirectionaltravel of the lasing beams around the rings.

FIG. 6A1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 601.

FIG. 6A2 is a schematic cross-section view (across plane 670 of FIG.6A1) of assembly 601 that includes an output window 661 at secondsurface 612 according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6A3 is a schematic cross-section view (across plane 670 of FIG.6A1) of assembly 601 that includes an output lenslet 664 for each of aplurality of output beams at second surface 612 according to someembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6A4 is a schematic cross-section view (across plane 670 of FIG.6A1) of an assembly 601 that includes an output meniscus(concave-convex) lenslet 665 for each of a plurality of output beams atsecond surface 612 according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 602.

FIG. 6C is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 603.

FIG. 6D is a schematic plan view of optical-fiber-array assembly 603 ofFIG. 6C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics forthe purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that many variations and alterations to the following detailsare within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the followingpreferred embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss ofgenerality to, and without imposing limitations upon the claimedinvention.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments inwhich the invention may be practiced. It is understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The leading digit(s) of reference numbers appearing in the Figuresgenerally corresponds to the Figure number in which that component isfirst introduced, such that the same reference number is used throughoutto refer to an identical component which appears in multiple Figures.Signals and connections may be referred to by the same reference numberor label, and the actual meaning will be clear from its use in thecontext of the description.

As used herein, an optical signal (the signal) is light (of any suitablewavelength including ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths as well asvisible wavelengths) of a signal wavelength being amplified, or of alaser output (and may or may not be modulated with information).

FIG. 1A1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 101.1 having equal-spaced fiber connections to a base plate110. In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 101.1 includes abase plate 110 and a plurality of optical fibers 130 that are attachedto a first surface 111 of base plate 110. In some embodiments, baseplate 110 includes a top major face 116. In some embodiments, opticalsignals transmitted through the plurality of optical fibers 130 aretransmitted into base plate 110 at first surface 111, transmittedthrough base plate 110, and then emitted as a composite output beam 177from base plate 110 at a second surface 112 of base plate 110. In someembodiments, the composite output beam 177 includes a plurality ofoutput beams, wherein the shape of the plurality of output beams (i.e.,whether the beams are focused, collimated, diverged, polarized,interfering or the like) is based on the geometries of the plurality ofoptical fibers 130 and on the geometry of base plate 110 and thecharacteristics of the optical signals supplied by the optical fibers130. In some embodiments, the composite output light pattern (alsocalled composite “beam”) 177 (e.g., in some embodiments, a plurality ofoutput beams) include a plurality of wavelengths (in some suchembodiments, each one of the plurality of output beams has a uniquewavelength). FIG. 1A2 is a schematic perspective view of anoptical-fiber-array assembly 101.2. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 101.2 includes a base plate 110 and aplurality of optical fibers 130 that are attached to a first surface 111of base plate 110 at a fiber-to-fiber spacing that varies. For example,in some embodiments, optical fibers 130.1 and 130.2 are separated fromeach other by a first distance that is greater than the distance between130.J and 130.K and greater than the distance between 130.N−1 and 130.N.

In some embodiments of all the embodiments shown in the various figuresherein, a base plate 110 (or 210, 310, 410, 501 o or 501 i) is made ofvery pure glass and absorbs very little light internally, and becausethe input fibers are fused directly to the base plate 110, very littlelight is absorbed at the input face 111 interface. In some embodiments,the expanded beam size inside base plate 110 also improvespower-handling capability over prior-art fiber arrays. Thus thecontinuous-power-handling capability can achieve up to one megawatt ormore, and the peak-power-handling capability can achieve up to onehundred megawatts or more.

For example, in some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibitspeak power of at least 0.1 megawatts (MW). In some embodiments,composite output beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least 0.2 MW. Insome embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peak power of atleast 0.4 MW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibitspeak power of at least 0.6 MW. In some embodiments, composite outputbeam 177 exhibits peak power of at least 0.8 MW. In some embodiments,composite output beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least 1 MW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least 2MW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peak powerof at least 4 MW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177exhibits peak power of at least 6 MW. In some embodiments, compositeoutput beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least 8 MW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least10 MW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peakpower of at least 20 MW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177exhibits peak power of at least 40 MW. In some embodiments, compositeoutput beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least 60 MW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peak power of at least80 MW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits peakpower of at least 100 MW.

In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits continuous wave(CW) average power of at least 100 watts (W). In some embodiments,composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 200 W.In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average powerof at least 300 W. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177exhibits CW average power of at least 400 W. In some embodiments,composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 500 W.In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average powerof at least 750 W. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177exhibits CW average power of at least 1 kilowatt (KW). In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of atleast 2 KW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CWaverage power of at least 4 KW. In some embodiments, composite outputbeam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 6 KW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of atleast 8 KW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CWaverage power of at least 10 KW. In some embodiments, composite outputbeam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 20 KW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of atleast 40 KW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CWaverage power of at least 60 KW. In some embodiments, composite outputbeam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 80 KW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of atleast 100 KW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CWaverage power of at least 200 KW. In some embodiments, composite outputbeam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 400 KW. In someembodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of atleast 500 KW. In some embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CWaverage power of at least one megawatt (1 MW). In some embodiments,composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power of at least 2 MW. Insome embodiments, composite output beam 177 exhibits CW average power ofat least 5 MW.

In some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 1A1, second surface 112is a flat surface. In some embodiments, an anti-reflective (AR) coatingis applied to second surface 112 to improve light transmission throughbase plate 110. One advantage of the present invention is that it isgenerally much easier to AR-coat the single output face of base plate110 than to AR-coat the tips of fibers 130 or apply a separate end capapplied to each of a plurality of fibers. A method for anti-reflectivecoating usable with the present invention is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,172,812 (hereinafter, “Haaland et al.”), titled “ANTI-REFLECTIONCOATINGS AND COATED ARTICLES”, issued Jan. 9, 2001, and incorporatedherein by reference. Haaland et al. describe coated optical substratesand a method of coating optical substrates with anti-reflective (AR)coatings. The composition of the coating is determined by materialconstraints such as adhesion, durability, ease of manufacture, and cost.The thickness of one or more layers of AR material is determined byminimizing the product of the Fresnel reflection coefficients for thecoated article with the angle- and wavelength-dependent sensitivity ofthe human visual system.

In some embodiments, an AR-coating is applied to first surface 111 andsecond surface 112. A method for AR-coating first surface 111 usablewith the present invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,965(hereinafter, “Yin”), titled “EFFICIENT COUPLING OF OPTICAL FIBER TOOPTICAL COMPONENT”, issued Sep. 2, 2003, and incorporated herein byreference. Yin describes a method of preparing an optical component forcoupling with an optical fiber. The method includes determining athickness of a buffer layer formed on the optical component. The methodalso includes forming an anti reflective coating adjacent to the bufferlayer. The anti reflective coating is formed to a thickness selected inresponse to the determined buffer layer thickness. In some embodiments,the AR-coating on first surface 111 and/or second surface 112 is omittedand fibers 130 are glued or adhered (e.g., in some embodiments, using anindex-matching adhesive that is transparent at least at the signalwavelength(s)) to first surface 111.

In some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 1A1 and FIG. 1A2,fibers 130 are attached to first surface 111 of base plate 110 such thatfibers 130 are adjacent and substantially parallel to each other, andwherein the longitudinal axis of each fiber is substantiallyperpendicular to the face of first surface 111. In some embodiments, aplurality of the fibers 130 are adjacent and touching one another asshown in FIG. 1A1. In other embodiments, a plurality of the fibers 130are near one another, but at least some are not touching, as shown inFIG. 1A2. In some such embodiments, the material of the base plate 110is selected to have an index of refraction that matches the index ofrefraction of the core of the fibers 130, in order to minimizereflections at the fiber-base plate boundary. In other embodiments (see,e.g., FIG. 4E), at least a first portion of fibers 130 attach to firstsurface 111 at a first angle that is other than perpendicular, in orderthat any reflections from the fiber-core to base plate boundary do notget coupled in a backward-propagating direction in the core but ratherleak out the sides of the fiber. In some such embodiments (e.g., seeFIG. 4F), at least a second portion of fibers 431 attach to firstsurface 411 at a second angle that is different than the first angle. Instill other embodiments, fibers 130 are attached to first surface 111 ofbase plate 110 in any other suitable configuration.

In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of optical fibers 130 hasa length of at least 500 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, each oneof the plurality of optical fibers 130 has a length of less than 500 mm.In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of optical fibers 130 hasa length of about 500 mm to about 1 meter (m). In some embodiments, eachone of the plurality of optical fibers 130 has a length of between about500 mm and about 600 mm, a length of between about 600 mm and about 700mm, a length of between about 700 mm and about 800 mm, a length ofbetween about 800 mm and about 900 mm, a length of between about 900 mmand about 1000 mm. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality ofoptical fibers 130 has a length of at least 1 m. In some embodiments,each one of the plurality of optical fibers 130 has a length of about 1m to about 100 m. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality offibers 130 has a length of between about 1 m and about 5 m, a length ofbetween about 5 m and about 10 m, a length of between about 10 m andabout 50 m, a length of between about 50 m and about 100 m. In someembodiments, each one of the plurality of fibers 130 has a length of atleast 100 m. In some embodiments, the optical fibers 130 are coiled.

In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes at least twofibers. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes atleast four fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130includes at least eight fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality offibers 130 includes at least 10 fibers. In some embodiments, theplurality of fibers 130 includes at least 20 fibers. In someembodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes at least 25 fibers. Insome embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes at least 50fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes atleast 75 fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130includes at least 100 fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality offibers 130 includes at least 150 fibers. In some embodiments, theplurality of fibers 130 includes at least 200 fibers. In someembodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes at least 250 fibers.In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 includes more than 250fibers.

In some embodiments, base plate 110 is formed from a monolithicmaterial. (In some other embodiments (see FIG. 6A1-FIG. 6D below), acorresponding hollow base plate is formed having an interior space thatair-filled or that has a vacuum.) In some embodiments, base plate 110 ismade from a material that includes glass. In some embodiments, baseplate 110 is made from a material that includes fused silica (in somesuch embodiments, base plate 110 is made from monolithic fused silica).In some embodiments, base plate 110 is made from a material thatincludes fused quartz (in some such embodiments, base plate 110 is madefrom fused quartz). In some embodiments, base plate 110 is made fromsubstantially the same material as that of the plurality of opticalfibers 130. In some embodiments, base plate 110 is made from any othersuitable material capable of transmitting the optical signals receivedfrom the plurality of optical fibers 130.

In some embodiments, base plate 110 is about 1 to 1.2 mm thick (in the Zdirection of light propagation) by 75 mm (in the X direction) by 25 mmhigh (in the Y direction) (about the size of certain standard microscopeslides). In some embodiments, base plate 110 is about 1.2 mm thick (inthe Z direction of light propagation) by 25 mm (in the X direction) by10 mm high (in the Y direction). In other embodiments, base plate 110 isabout 10 mm (in the Z direction of light propagation) by 25 mm (in the Xdirection) by 1 mm high (in the Y direction) or any other suitable size.In some embodiments, the optical fibers are about 500 microns (0.5 mm)(or any other suitable size) in outside diameter. In some otherembodiments, the optical fibers are about 1000 microns (1 mm) or more inoutside diameter (such sizes of optical fibers are often termed opticalrods, but for the purposes of this disclosure are still referred to asoptical fibers). In some embodiments, the optical fibers have lengthwiseholes that define the optical waveguides and are termed photonic-crystalfibers, but for the purposes of this disclosure are also still referredto as optical fibers.

In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers 130 are directly attachedto first surface 111 of base plate 110 to form a substantially seamlessinterface for light transmission between the plurality of fibers 130 andbase plate 110. In some embodiments, fibers 130 are glued (using anindex-matching adhesive that is transparent at least at the signalwavelength(s)) to first surface 111. In some embodiments, fibers 130 arefused to first surface 111 (e.g., using laser welding or other suitablemethods). A method for fusing optical fibers usable with the presentinvention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,197 (hereinafter, “Okudaet al.”), titled “OPTICAL FIBER COUPLER, A PROCESS FOR FABRICATING THESAME AND AN OPTICAL AMPLIFIER USING THE SAME”, issued Jun. 18, 2002, andincorporated herein by reference. Okuda et al. describe an optical fibercoupler fabricated by the steps of jointing a single mode fiber with arare earth-doped fiber by fusing abutted end faces of both fibers toform a combined fiber; and fusing parallel contact parts of a quasi rareearth-doped fiber and of the rare earth-doped fiber of the combinedfiber and then elongating the fused parts in a desired diameter to forma fused-stretch fiber portion. In some embodiments, the method describedby Okuda et al. is modified such that fibers 130 are suitably fused tosurface 111.

In some embodiments, fibers 130 are attached to first surface 111 bylaser (or other) welding, soldering, or the like. In some embodiments,fibers 130 are butt-welded to first surface 111. A method for buttwelding optical fibers usable with the present invention is described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,178,779 (hereinafter, “Drouart et al.”), titled “BUTTWELDING OPTICAL FIBER PREFORMS WITH A PLASMA TORCH”, issued Jan. 30,2001, and incorporated herein by reference. Drouart et al. describe amethod of assembling two optical fiber preforms together end-to-end, themethod including the following operations: the two cylindrical preformsare placed in alignment along a common longitudinal axis; the preformsare rotated about the common longitudinal axis; the facing ends of saidpreforms are heated by a heater; and the preforms are moved towards eachother parallel to the common axis to press them against each other so asto form intimate contact between the ends after cooling. In someembodiments, the method described by Drouart et al. is modified suchthat fibers 130 are suitably butt welded to surface 111.

In some embodiments, first surface 111 of base plate 110 includesindicia 115 that assist in positioning the fibers 130 in the properlocation on first surface 111 (in some embodiments, for example, indicia115 includes registration lines and datum indicating where to align andfuse the various fibers 130 to base plate 110). The use of indicia 115simplifies fiber alignment and increases the precision of formingfiber-array 110. In some embodiments, indicia 115 includes, for example,lines, shapes, letters, or any other suitable visual depictions thatindicate the proper positioning of fibers 130. In some embodiments,indicia 115 include visual indications of the proper polarizationalignment of fibers 130 (in some such embodiments, the plurality offibers 130 are shaped to correspond to the polarization-alignmentindicia 115; see, for example, FIG. 2C).

A method for using indicia to align an optical fiber array usable withthe present invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,347(hereinafter, “Livingston et al.”), titled “OPTICAL FIBER ARRAYCONNECTIVITY SYSTEM WITH INDICIA TO FACILITATE CONNECTIVITY IN FOURORIENTATIONS FOR DUAL FUNCTIONALITY”, issued Aug. 26, 2008, andincorporated herein by reference. Livingston et al. describe a fan-outunit for a data communication system that includes: a plurality ofoptical fibers; and a faceplate with a plurality of ports arranged in atleast one row, each of the ports being optically interconnected with arespective one of the optical fibers and configured to receive a matingoptical fiber. The faceplate includes a first visual indicia associatedwith the ports that indicates an arrangement in which mating opticalfibers are to be inserted into the ports, the first visual indicia beingeasily readable when the faceplate is in either a first horizontalorientation or a first vertical orientation, but not being easilyreadable when the faceplate is in a second horizontal orientation thatis inverted from the first horizontal orientation or a second verticalorientation that is inverted from the first vertical orientation.

In some embodiments, indicia 115 are etched onto first surface 111,laser engraved into first surface 111, or formed on first surface 111 inany other suitable manner. In some embodiments, indicia 115 are formedon first surface 111 using any suitable photolithography technique. Aphotolithography method usable with the present invention is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,707,541 (hereinafter, “Abrams et al.”), titled“SYSTEMS, MASKS, AND METHODS FOR PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY”, issued Apr. 27,2010, and is incorporated herein by reference. Abrams et al. describe amethod for determining a mask pattern to be used on a photo-mask in aphotolithographic process. During the method, a target pattern ispartitioning into subsets, which are distributed to processors. Then, aset of second mask patterns, each of which corresponds to one of thesubsets, is determined.

FIG. 1B1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 102.1 that includes a curved second surface 113.1. In someembodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 102.1 is substantially similarto optical-fiber-array assembly 101.1 of FIG. 1A1 except that array102.1 includes the curved second surface 113.1 instead of flat secondsurface 112. In some embodiments, curved second surface 113.1 has aconvex curvature along the X axis of base plate 110 and no curvaturealong the Y axis of base plate 110 (see coordinate reference 199) suchthat the composite output beam 177 emitted from base plate 110 isfocused or collimated in the X direction, but diverges in the Ydirection (e.g., in some embodiments, curved second surface 113.1functions as a positive cylindrical lens). In other embodiments (e.g.,see FIG. 3E and FIG. 6A4), curved second surface 113.1 includes acombination of convex and concave curvature along at least one of the Xaxis and Y axis. FIG. 1B2 is a schematic perspective view of anoptical-fiber-array assembly 102.2 that includes a curved second surface113.2. In some embodiments, curved second surface 113.2 has a convexcurvature along the X axis of base plate 110 and a convex curvaturealong the Y axis of base plate 110 such that the composite output beam177 emitted from base plate 110 is focused or collimated in the X and Ydirections (e.g., in some embodiments, curved second surface 113.2functions as a positive spherical lens).

FIG. 1C1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 103.1 that includes a curved second surface 114.1. In someembodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 103.1 is substantially similarto optical-fiber-array assembly 101.1 of FIG. 1A1 except that array103.1 includes the curved second surface 114.1 instead of flat secondsurface 112. In some embodiments, curved second surface 114.1 has aconcave curvature along the X axis of base plate 110 and no curvaturealong the Y axis of base plate 110 such that the composite output beam177 emitted from optical-fiber-array assembly 110 diverges in the X andY directions (in some such embodiments, the magnitude of divergence isgreater in the X direction than in the Y direction). For example, insome embodiments, curved second surface 114.1 functions as a negativecylindrical lens. FIG. 1C2 is a schematic perspective view of anoptical-fiber-array assembly 103.2 that includes a curved second surface114.2. In some embodiments, curved second surface 114.2 has a concavecurvature along the X axis of base plate 110 and a convex curvaturealong the Y axis of base plate 110 such that the composite output beam177 emitted from base plate 110 diverges in the X direction and focusesor collimates in the Y direction.

FIG. 1D is a diagram of an overall system 10 that includes a pluralityof assemblies including an optical-fiber-array assembly (OFAA) 104. Insome embodiments, system 10 includes a power supply 20. In someembodiments, optical sources 30 transmit a plurality of optical signalsinto OFAA 104. In some embodiments, OFAA 104 emits a composite outputbeam 177 that passes through other optical components 40, and opticalcomponents 40 emit output 45 from system 10. In some embodiments, system10 includes sensor components 50 that receive environmental inputs 55used to provide feedback and control for system 10.

FIG. 2A is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 201.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 201 includes a baseplate 210 and a plurality of optical fibers 230 that are attached to afirst surface 211 of base plate 210. In some embodiments, base plate 210includes a top major face 216. In some embodiments, the plurality ofoptical fibers 230 are directly attached to first surface 211 of baseplate 210 to form a substantially seamless interface for lighttransmission between the plurality of fibers 230 and base plate 210. Insome embodiments, fibers 230 are glued to first surface 211. In someembodiments, fibers 230 are fused to first surface 211. In someembodiments, fibers 230 are attached to first surface 211 by laserwelding, butt welding, soldering, or the like. In some embodiments,optical signals transmitted through the plurality of optical fibers 230are transmitted into base plate 210 at first surface 211, transmittedthrough base plate 210, and then emitted as a composite output beam (notillustrated) from base plate 210 at a second surface (not illustrated)of base plate 210. In some embodiments, the composite output beamincludes a plurality of output beams, wherein the shape of the pluralityof output beams (i.e., whether the beams are focused, collimated,diverged, or the like) is based on the geometries of the plurality ofoptical fibers 230 and on the geometry of base plate 210. In someembodiments, the plurality of output beams includes a plurality ofwavelengths (in some such embodiments, each one of the plurality ofoutput beams has a unique wavelength). In some embodiments, indicia(e.g., in some embodiments, fiber-positioning lines) 215 augmentalignment between individual fibers of the plurality of fibers 230 andbetween the plurality of fibers 230 and base plate 210.

FIG. 2B is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 202.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 202 is substantiallysimilar to optical-fiber-array assembly 201 of FIG. 2A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 202 includes the additional aspect that apolarization-maintaining (PM) axis 231 of each one of the plurality offibers 230 is oriented or aligned based on fiber-positioning lines 215.In some embodiments, the PM axes 231 of all the fibers 230 are allaligned to be substantially parallel to a single plane (e.g., in someembodiments, a plane that is perpendicular to both first surface 211 andto the top major face 216 of the base plate 210).

FIG. 2C is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 203.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 203 includes aplurality of optical fibers 240 that each have a cross-section having anon-circular circumference, such as a polygonal (e.g., octagon, hexagonor other suitable polygon) shape, or a curved circumference having atleast one flat (e.g., a flatted side on a circular cross section). Insome embodiments, each one of optical fibers 240 includes at least onecladding layer configured to carry pump light, and a non-circularcircumference creates disturbances within the cladding layer that causepump light to spread or smear the pump light across the entire volume ofthe cladding layer and therefore improve beam uniformity. In some suchembodiments, the improvement in beam uniformity caused by thenon-circular circumference primarily benefits optical componentsupstream (i.e., closer to the laser source along the path of lightpropagation) of assembly 203 (e.g., a fiber amplifier connected tooptical fibers 240 at an end of optical fibers 240 opposite of assembly203) because, in some embodiments, there is only a small amount ofresidual pump light present at the junction of assembly 203 and opticalfibers 240. In some embodiments, a non-circular circumference is alsoused to assist in aligning the PM-axis 231 of the fibers 240. In someembodiments, each one of the plurality of optical fibers 240 has anyother shape or index-of-refraction variation that improves pump-beamuniformity in the cladding, pump-light injection from the cladding intothe core and/or signal amplification in the core, and facilitates or issuitable to assist with aligning PM axis 231 of each fiber 240 parallelto some reference plane (e.g., in some embodiments, relative to thefiber-positioning lines 215 or other indicia). For example, in someembodiments, each one of the plurality of optical fibers 240 has a corethat is located off-center within the respective fiber 240 to increasethe amount of pump light that enters the core and thus improveamplification efficiency.

FIG. 2D is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 204.In some embodiments, assembly 204 is substantially similar to assembly201 of FIG. 2A except that the plurality of fibers 230 are attached tofirst surface 211 in two rows of fibers instead of a single row. In someembodiments, using two rows of fibers instead of a single row reducesthe overall footprint required for assembly 204. In some embodiments,two or more rows of fibers are arranged in a suitable configurationother than the off-set configuration illustrated by FIG. 2D (e.g., seeFIG. 2G1).

FIG. 2E is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 205.In some embodiments, assembly 205 is substantially similar to assembly202 of FIG. 2B except that the plurality of fibers 230 are attached tofirst surface 211 in two rows of fibers instead of a single row.

FIG. 2F is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 206.In some embodiments, assembly 206 is substantially similar to assembly203 of FIG. 2C except that the plurality of fibers 240 are attached tofirst surface 211 in two rows of fibers instead of a single row.

FIG. 2G1 is a schematic end view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 207.In some embodiments, assembly 207 is substantially similar to assembly205 of FIG. 2E except that the plurality of fibers 230 are attached tofirst surface 211 in two rows (236 and 237) directly in line with eachother (as opposed to the off-set configuration of the two rows of fibers230 illustrated in FIG. 2E). In some embodiments, assembly 207 furtherdistinguishes from assembly 205 because one row of fibers 236 has a PMaxis 232 while the other row of fibers 237 has a PM axis 233 that issubstantially perpendicular to the PM axis 232. In some embodiments,base plate 210 includes a polarization combiner (e.g., a structure suchthat the two sets of polarized beams overlap or combine) at the outputend of base plate 210 that combines the two different polarizations ofthe two rows of fibers 230 into a merged output 234 that issubstantially unpolarized if the relative intensities of the lightsignals having PM axis 232 and the light signals having PM axis 233 aresubstantially equal in power. Some of the polarization combiners thatcan be used with the present invention are described by U.S. Pat. No.7,680,170 (hereinafter, “Hu et al.”), titled “COUPLING DEVICES ANDMETHODS FOR STACKED LASER EMITTER ARRAYS”, issued Mar. 16, 2010, whichis incorporated herein by reference (see, for example, FIG. 8, FIG. 9,and FIG. 10 of Hu et al.).

FIG. 2G2 is a schematic side view of assembly 207 of FIG. 2G1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 301.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 301 includes a baseplate 310 and a plurality of optical fibers 330 that are attached to afirst surface 311 of base plate 310. In some embodiments, base plate 310includes a top major face 316. In some embodiments, fibers 330 are gluedto first surface 311. In some embodiments, fibers 330 are fused to firstsurface 311. In some embodiments, fibers 330 are attached to firstsurface 311 by laser welding, butt welding, soldering, or the like. Insome embodiments, optical signals transmitted through the plurality ofoptical fibers 330 are transmitted into base plate 310 at first surface311, transmitted through base plate 310, and then emitted as a compositeoutput beam 177 (which, in some embodiments, includes a plurality ofoutput beams) from base plate 310 at a second surface 312 of base plate310. In some embodiments, second surface 312 is flat. In someembodiments, an anti-reflective (AR)-coating is applied to secondsurface 312 to improve light transmission through base plate 310 (insome such embodiments, first surface 311 is not AR-coated).

FIG. 3B1 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly302.1 that includes a curved second surface 313.1. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 302.1 is substantially similar tooptical-fiber-array assembly 301 of FIG. 3A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 302.1 includes the curved second surface313.1 instead of flat second surface 312. In some embodiments, curvedsecond surface 313.1 has a curvature that is substantially similar tocurved second surface 113.1 of FIG. 1B1 (i.e., in some embodiments,curved second surface 313.1 functions as a positive cylindrical lens).FIG. 3B2 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly302.2 that includes a curved second surface 313.2. In some embodiments,curved second surface 313.2 has a curvature that is substantiallysimilar to curved second surface 113.2 of FIG. 1B2 (i.e., in someembodiments, curved second surface 313.2 functions as a positivespherical lens).

FIG. 3C1 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly3030. In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 3030 issubstantially similar to optical-fiber-array assembly 301 of FIG. 3Aexcept that optical-fiber-array assembly 3030 includes a curved secondsurface 314 instead of flat second surface 312. In some embodiments,curved second surface 314 has a curvature that is substantially similarto curved second surface 114.1 of FIG. 1C1 (i.e., in some embodiments,curved second surface 314 functions as a negative cylindrical lens).

FIG. 3C2 is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly3031. In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 3031 issubstantially similar to optical-fiber-array assembly 301 of FIG. 3Aexcept that optical-fiber-array assembly 3031 includes a plurality oflenslets 350 on a concave-curved second surface 314 instead of flatsecond surface 312. In some embodiments, concave-curved second surface314 has a curvature that synergistically operates with the collimatinglenslets 350 to form a plurality of converging collimated beams.

FIG. 3D is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 304.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 304 is substantiallysimilar to optical-fiber-array assembly 301 of FIG. 3A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 304 includes a plurality of lenslets (orother optical elements such as curved refractive (e.g., biconvex,plano-convex, positive meniscus, negative meniscus, plano-concave,biconcave, or compound lenses) or reflective surfaces (e.g., curvedmirrors that reflect and focus the output beams through the top surface316 (see FIG. 3B1) or bottom surface), GRIN lenses (graded-index fiberlenses), holographic, diffractive, or grating structures, or otheroptical elements) 350 configured to shape (e.g., focus, collimate,diverge, or the like) individual output beams of the composite outputbeam 177 of optical-fiber-array assembly 304. For example, in someembodiments, individual optical signals are transmitted throughoptical-fiber-array assembly 304 such that the plurality of output beamsassociated with the individual optical signals are emitted as collimatedoutput beams 351 from optical-fiber-array assembly 304. In someembodiments, lenslets 350 are further configured to reduce aberration.In some embodiments, lenslets 350 are formed separately from base plate310 and then later affixed to second surface 312 of base plate 310 byfusing, butt (or other) welding, gluing or the like. In otherembodiments, lenslets 350 are formed as part of base plate 310. A methodfor fabricating lenslets usable with the present invention is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,943 (hereinafter, “Djeu”), titled “METHODS FORFABRICATING LENSES AT THE END OF OPTICAL FIBERS IN THE FAR FIELD OF THEFIBER APERTURE”, issued Oct. 31, 2006, and incorporated herein byreference. Djeu describe a microlens is affixed in the far field of anoptical fiber to spatially transform a beam either entering or exitingthe fiber. In a first embodiment, a droplet of photo polymer is placedon the end of an optical fiber and the fiber is spun to create anartificial gravity. The droplet is cured by UV radiation during thespinning. In some embodiments, the method described by Djeu is modifiedsuch that lenslets 350 are suitably formed on surface 312 of base plate310.

In some embodiments, a plurality of lenslets 319 located between theends of each of a plurality of fibers 330 are formed using very shortsections of focussing GRIN fibers fused to the light-output ends of thefibers as described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/343,948filed on Apr. 12, 2010, titled “High Beam Quality and High Average Powerfrom Large-Core-Size Optical-Fiber Amplifiers; Signal and PumpMode-Field Adaptor for Double-Clad Fibers and Associated Method” byMatthias Savage-Leuchs et al., wherein the opposite ends of the veryshort sections of GRIN lenslets 319 are then fused or glued to the baseplates as described herein, and GRIN lenslets 319 perform a focussingfunction on the input light going into base plate 310. In someembodiments, very short sections of focussing GRIN fibers (not shown)are fused to the output face 314 of base plate 310, in place of thelenslets 350 shown in FIG. 3C2, and perform a focussing function on theoutput light. In some embodiments, diffraction gratings or holograms orother focussing elements (not shown) are formed on the output face 314of base plate 310, in place of the lenslets 350 shown in FIG. 3C2, andperform a focussing function on the output light. In some embodiments,the very short sections of input focussing GRIN fibers 319 are omittedand the fibers 330 are fused directly to the input face 311 of baseplate 310 (as described for FIG. 3C1).

In some embodiments, lenslets 350 are formed by a high-power laser(e.g., in some embodiments, a carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser) in a processsuch as used by OZ Optics, 219 Westbrook Road, Ottawa, Ontario, KOA 1LO,Canada, to form tapered and lensed fibers(www.ozoptics.com/ALLNEW_PDF/DTS0080.pdf).

FIG. 3E is a schematic plan view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 305that includes a curved second surface 315. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 305 is substantially similar tooptical-fiber-array assembly 301 of FIG. 3A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 305 includes the curved second surface 315instead of flat second surface 312.

FIG. 4A is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 401.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 401 includes a baseplate 410 and a plurality of optical fibers 430 that are attached to afirst surface 411 of base plate 410. In some embodiments, fibers 430 areglued to first surface 411. In some embodiments, fibers 430 are fused tofirst surface 411. In some embodiments, fibers 430 are attached to firstsurface 411 by laser welding, butt welding, soldering, or the like. Insome embodiments, optical signals transmitted through the plurality ofoptical fibers 430 are transmitted into base plate 410 at first surface411, transmitted through base plate 410, and then emitted as a compositeoutput beam (which, in some embodiments, includes a plurality of outputbeams) from base plate 410 at a flat second surface 412 of base plate410.

FIG. 4B is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 402.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 402 is substantiallysimilar to optical-fiber-array assembly 401 of FIG. 4A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 402 includes a fiber-array support 460configured to support the plurality of fibers 430 (and therefore assistthe alignment of fibers 430) prior to (and in some embodiments, after)affixing the plurality of optical fibers 430 to base plate 410. In someembodiments, fiber-array support 460 is made from the same material asbase plate 410 (in some embodiments, for example, fiber-array support460 is made from fused silica glass). In some embodiments, fiber-arraysupport 460 includes a V-groove structure such as described by U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,058,275 to Sezerman et al. and 6,402,390 to Anderson et al. (seeBackground of Invention section of the present application). In someembodiments, support 460 further includes (or is affixed to) a pluralityof heatsink fins 490 and/or an active cooling unit (such as awater-cooled heatsink, wherein the water is carried by a pipe or conduitto a cooling location remote from the base plate 410, in order to removeheat caused by partial absorption of the light passing through thedevice) attached to or placed against at least one face of thetransparent base plate 410, and in some embodiments, a second heatsinkor active cooling unit 491 is attached to or placed against the oppositefaces as well (as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 4B).

FIG. 4C1 is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly403.1 that includes a curved second surface 413.1. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 403.1 is substantially similar tooptical-fiber-array assembly 401 of FIG. 4A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 403.1 includes the curved second surface413.1 instead of flat second surface 412. In some embodiments, curvedsecond surface 413.1 has a curvature that is substantially similar tocurved second surface 113.1 of FIG. 1B1 and curved second surface 313.1of FIG. 3B1 (i.e., in some embodiments, curved second surface 413.1functions as a positive cylindrical lens). FIG. 4C2 is a schematic sideview of an optical-fiber-array assembly 403.2 that includes a curvedsecond surface 413.2. In some embodiments, curved second surface 413.2has a curvature that is substantially similar to curved second surface113.2 of FIG. 1B2 and curved second surface 313.2 of FIG. 3B2 (i.e., insome embodiments, curved second surface 413.2 functions as a positivespherical lens).

FIG. 4D is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 404.In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 404 is substantiallysimilar to optical-fiber-array assembly 401 of FIG. 4A except thatoptical-fiber-array assembly 404 includes a plurality of lenslets (orother beam-shaping/diffractive optics) 450 configured to shape (e.g.,focus, collimate, diverge, or the like) individual output beams of thecomposite output beam of optical-fiber-array assembly 404. For example,in some embodiments, individual optical signals are transmitted throughoptical-fiber-array assembly 404 in pattern 451 such that the pluralityof output beams associated with the individual optical signals areemitted as collimated beams from optical-fiber-array assembly 404.

FIG. 4E is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 405.In some embodiments, assembly 405 is substantially similar to assembly401 of FIG. 4A except that the plurality of optical fibers 430 ofassembly 405 attach to first surface 411 at a first angle α₁ that isother than perpendicular, in order that any reflections from thefiber-core to base plate boundary do not get coupled in abackward-propagating direction in the core but rather leak out the sidesof the fiber.

FIG. 4F is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 406. In some embodiments, assembly 406 is substantially similarto assembly 405 of FIG. 4E except that the plurality of optical fibers430 includes a first subset of optical fibers 431 that attach to firstsurface 411 at a first angle α₁ that is other than perpendicular, and asecond subset of optical fibers 432 that attach to first surface 411 ata second angle α₂ that is different than the first angle. The varyingattachment angles of the fibers substantially reduces the reflectionsfrom the fiber-core to base plate boundary that get coupled in abackward-propagating direction in the core (and, in some embodiments,the varying attachment angles of the fibers cause the reflections toleak out the sides of the fibers). In some embodiments, the plurality ofoptical fibers 430 are attached to first surface 411 of base plate 410in any other suitable configuration.

FIG. 4G is a schematic side view of an optical-fiber-array assembly 407.In some embodiments, assembly 407 is substantially similar to assembly401 of FIG. 4A except that first surface 411 and second surface 412 arenot parallel with each other in the Y-Z plane (the generally Ydirection) (e.g., in assembly 407 of FIG. 4G, second surface 412 isformed at an angle that is not perpendicular with top surface 416 ofbase plate 410, and first surface 411 forms a perpendicular angle withtop surface 416 of base plate 410). Forming second surface 412 such thatit is non-perpendicular with top surface 416 substantially reduces thereflections at second surface 412 that couple in a backward-propagatingdirection toward first surface 411 and into the core. Similarly, formingfirst surface 411 such that it is non-perpendicular with top surface 416substantially reduces the reflections from the fiber-core to base plateboundary that get coupled in a backward-propagating direction in thecore.

FIG. 5A1 is a schematic plan view of a spectral beam combiner 500.1 thatincludes an optical-fiber-array assembly 501. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 501 includes one of the optical-fiber-arrayassemblies discussed in the present application (e.g.,optical-fiber-array assembly 101.1, 101.2, 102.1, 102.2, 103.1, 103.2,104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 301, 302.1, 302.2, 3030, 3031,304, 401, 402, 403.1, 403.2, 404, 405, 406, 601, 602, or 603). In someembodiments, the composite output beam emitted from optical-fiber-arrayassembly 501 includes a plurality of output beams that serve as inputbeams 96, 97, 98, . . . 99 for grating G₁ 551 (in some such embodiments,the plurality of output beams pass through a plurality of collimatingfocusing elements (e.g., a lens array) after leaving optical-fiber-arrayassembly 501 and before contacting grating G₁ 551). In some embodiments,input beam 96 has wavelength λ₁, input beam 97 has wavelength λ₂, inputbeam 98 has wavelength λ₃, and input beam 99 has wavelength λ_(N). Insome embodiments, spectral beam combiner 500 includeswavelength-dispersion compensation using a plurality of gratings (e.g.,551 and 552). In some embodiments, each grating is made usingconventional methods for making single gratings, for example, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,436 to Perry et al., U.S. Pat. No.7,199,924 to Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,117 to Heidenhain et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,790 to Swanson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,796 toTakada et al., and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,859 to Hoose et al. (each ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference). In some embodiments,asymmetric grooves in gratings G₁ 551 and G₂ 552 are dielectric coated,and have a groove profile and periodicity spacing selected to maximizethe efficiency of diffracting the most power into a single-order mode(i.e., the order that goes in the direction of the second grating) andto minimize the power absorbed by the gratings, in order to minimizeheat distortion of the grating and to maximize output power andintensity. In some embodiments, every input beam 96, 97, 98, . . . 99impinges into the first grating G₁ 551 at the same angle, but eachintermediate beam leaves the first grating G₁ 551 at a different anglethat depends on the wavelength of that beam, and each intermediate beamconverges to a single spot and impinges on the second grating 552 (thesurface of which is parallel to the first grating 551 (G₁) using thesame respective angles as the outgoing angles for that wavelength fromthe first grating 551 (G₁), and every beam leaves the second grating atthe same outgoing angle in a single combined beam 90 that is parallel tothe input beams and in the same direction. In some embodiments, theinput grating 551 introduces a compensating dispersion in a directionthat is opposite that of output grating 552, such that the output beam90 is substantially collimated and there is minimal or no chromaticdispersion due to the spreading of linewidths that occurs when usingonly a single grating.

FIG. 5A2 is a schematic plan view of a spectral beam combiner 500.2 thatincludes an optical-fiber-array assembly 501. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 501 includes one of the optical-fiber-arrayassemblies discussed in the present application (e.g.,optical-fiber-array assembly 101.1, 101.2, 102.1, 102.2, 103.1, 103.2,104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 301, 302.1, 302.2, 3030, 3031,304, 401, 402, 403.1, 403.2, 404, 405, 406, 601, 602, or 603). In someembodiments, the composite output beam emitted from optical-fiber-arrayassembly 501 includes a plurality of output beams that serve as inputbeams 96, 97, 98, . . . 99 for parabolic-section mirror M₁ 555 (in someembodiments, the mirror is a dielectric-coated mirror having a pluralityof layers of dielectric to enhance reflectivity, and is a section of aparabolic shape that directs and/or focuses all of the input beams 96,97, . . . 98, 99 to a single location on the output grating 552. In somesuch embodiments, the plurality of output beams pass through a pluralityof collimating focusing elements (e.g., a lens array) after leavingoptical-fiber-array assembly 501 and before contacting mirror M₁ 555,such that each beam is collimated (having parallel rays). In someembodiments, the mirror M₁ 555 is a parabola in the X-Z plane, but theintersection of the mirror surface with planes of constant Z formstraight lines, and thus the collimated input beams 96-99 get focussedin the X-Z direction but keep their collimated width in the Y direction,and in some embodiments, the input beams 96-99 are collimated such thattheir cross-section is wider in the X direction than in the Y directionbefore they reflect from the mirror M₁ 555, in order that the outputbeam 90 has a substantially circular shape with a substantially Gaussianintensity cross section. In some embodiments, input beam 96 haswavelength λ₁, input beam 97 has wavelength λ₂, input beam 98 haswavelength λ₃, and input beam 99 has wavelength λ_(N). In someembodiments, spectral beam combiner 500.2 includes wavelength-dispersioncompensation using mirror M₁ 555 and grating 552. In some embodiments,grating G₂ 552 is as described in FIG. 5A1 above. In some embodiments,every input beam 96, 97, 98, . . . 99 is parallel and thus impinges intothe mirror M₁ 555 at the same angle, but each intermediate beam leavesthe mirror M₁ 555 at a different angle that depends on the position (andthus the wavelength) of that beam, and each intermediate beam convergesto a single spot, and every beam leaves the grating G₂ 552 at the sameoutgoing angle in a single coaxial combined beam 90 that is parallel tothe input beams and in the same direction. In other embodiments, mirrorM₁ 555 and the input beams 96-99 are configured in any other suitablemanner (not shown here) such that the intermediate beams 95 converge toa single location on output grating 552 as shown in FIG. 5A2, and suchthat the output beam 90 is substantially collimated (except for slightchromatic dispersion of the linewidths of each laser beam that remainsbecause the mirror M₁ 555 does not provide the pre-compensating oppositechromatic dispersion obtained by the input grating G₁ 551 of the morecomplex system 500.1 of FIG. 5A1).

FIG. 5A3 is a schematic perspective view of a spectral beam combiner500.2 that includes an optical-fiber-array assembly 501. The descriptionof FIG. 5A2 applies here. In addition, in this FIG. 5A3, the inputfibers 530 for the optical-fiber-array assembly 501 are shown. Also, anexit window or port 509 is provided for the zero-order beam coming offgrating 552, which is then directed to a beam dump (not shown) to absorbthe unwanted light, or is directed to some other use.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a ring SBC system 502. In someembodiments, system 502 includes a plurality of optical fibers 510 (thetwo shown, plus optionally one or more others located at spaced-apartpositions between those shown) coupled (e.g., in some embodiments,welded to optical-fiber array assembly 501 i or 501 o at butt-weld joint517) to input optical-fiber-array assembly 501 i to receivechromatically dispersed optical feedback from grating 521 and focusingelement 522 (e.g., a lens or mirror). The optical signals in fibers 510are each amplified by their respective preamplifier 511-512, andrespective power amplifier 515-516. In some embodiments, an opticalisolator 513 is provided for each optical path between the respectivepreamplifiers 511-512, and respective power amplifiers 515-516. Theoutput end of each fiber is attached to output optical-fiber-arrayassembly 5010 (e.g., in some embodiments, each fiber is welded atbutt-weld joint 517). In some embodiments, each fiber's output end has abeam-expanding endcap (as shown in FIG. 1B1, FIG. 1B2, FIG. 2G2, FIG.3B1, FIG. 3B2, FIG. 3C2, FIG. 4C1, and FIG. 4C2) and/or a hollow-corefiber termination (as shown in FIG. 6A3 and FIG. 6A4), corresponding tothose described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,561, filed May 26, 2006 andissued Jun. 24, 2008, titled FIBER- OR ROD-BASED OPTICAL SOURCEFEATURING A LARGE-CORE, RARE-EARTH-DOPED PHOTONIC-CRYSTAL DEVICE FORGENERATION OF HIGH-POWER PULSED RADIATION AND METHOD, which isincorporated herein by reference. The plurality of output beams 81-82(plus optionally one or more others), each having a differentwavelength, are each collimated by focusing element 518 (e.g., a lens asshown here, a plurality of lenslets as shown in FIG. 3C2, or adiffractive focussing optical element or mirror that perform thecorresponding function) into their own respective angularly convergingcollimated beam that each impinge onto grating 519 at a different angle,and due to their respective different wavelengths, each is spectrallycombined into a single beam 88. In some embodiments, a mostlyreflective, but partially transmissive, output mirror 520 (also called abeam sampler 520) reflects most of beam 88 into output beam 89, which,due to the single output grating 519, has chromatic dispersion. In someembodiments, output mirror 520 reflects about 99% of beam 88 into outputbeam 89, and transmits about 1% as feedback beam 87, which is thendiffracted by input grating 521 and focused by focusing element 522(e.g., a lens as shown, or a diffractive focussing optical element ormirror that perform the corresponding function) such that each differentwavelength is directed into its own respective optical fiber 510 held byinput optical-fiber-array assembly 501 i. In some embodiments,optical-fiber-array assembly 501 i and/or 501 o includes one of theoptical-fiber-array assemblies discussed in the present application(e.g., optical-fiber-array assembly 102.1, 102.2, 201, 202, 203, 204,205, 206, 207, 302.1, 302.2, 3031, 304, 403.1, 403.2, 404, 670B, 670C,or 603).

In the ring SBC system 502, the output from multiple-fiber channels iscombined using a grating, just as in a single-grating MOPA system, but aportion of the combined beam is separated into the individualwavelengths using a second grating (in some embodiments, one that isidentical to the first grating) and fed back to form the ringoscillator. The analysis of the beam quality of the combined beam issimilar to the single grating MOPA system. Even though the linewidthrequirement of the ring SBC is similar to the single-grating SBC system,the system complexity is significantly reduced in the ring SBC systembecause the wavelength and linewidth of the individual fiber lasers areautomatically set by the system. This is particularly advantageous for asystem with a large number of channels.

FIG. 6A1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 601. In some embodiments, optical-fiber-array assembly 601includes a base plate 610 and a plurality of optical fibers 630 (e.g.,in some embodiments, optical fiber 630.1 through 630.N) that areattached to a first surface 611 of base plate 610. In some embodiments,base plate 610 includes a top major face 616. In some embodiments,optical signals transmitted through the plurality of optical fibers 630are transmitted into base plate 610 at first surface 611, transmittedthrough base plate 610, and then emitted as a composite output beam 177from base plate 610 at a second surface 612 of base plate 610. In someembodiments, base plate 610 includes a hollow plate 660 having aninterior space (in some embodiments, the interior space of hollow plate660 is air-filled or has a vacuum). Hollow plate 660 allows the opticalsignals transmitted through the plurality of optical fibers to expandwithin base plate 610 without having to go through as much material(e.g., glass), which therefore leads to less power absorption. In someembodiments, the plurality of optical fibers 630 include a plurality ofhollow-core photonic-bandgap fibers, and in some such embodiments, theplurality of hollow-core fibers 630 are butt-welded to a correspondingplurality of capillary holes 631 (e.g., in some embodiments, capillaryholes 631.1 through 631.N) at first surface 611 such that the center ofan individual fiber 630 lines up with the center of a correspondingcapillary hole 631. In some embodiments, capillary holes 631 connectdirectly to hollow plate 660 such that optical signals transmittedthrough the plurality of optical fibers 630 are transmitted throughcapillary holes 631 and into hollow plate 660.

FIG. 6A2 is a schematic cross-section view (across plane 670 of FIG.6A1) of assembly 601 that includes an output window 661 at secondsurface 612 according to some embodiments of the invention. In someembodiments, base plate 610 is made from glass and is laser-welded(joint 640) at one end to the output end of optical fiber 630 (e.g., insome embodiments, a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber) and at the otherend to output window 661, in order to seal out contaminants from the PCFholes and hollow core of fiber 630. In some embodiments, optical fiber630 includes a solid core. In some embodiments, output window 661 isangled and anti-reflection coated at its inner and/or outer surfaces, inorder to reduce detrimental reflections. In some embodiments, the lengthof base plate 610 is sufficient such that the length of hollow plate 660allows some spreading of the output-signal beam, in order to reduce thepower density as the beam encounters window 661 and thus reduce opticaldamage to window 661 and window surfaces 662 at high beam powers.

FIG. 6A3 is a schematic cross-section view (across plane 670 of FIG.6A1) of assembly 601 that includes an output lenslet 664 for each of aplurality of output beams at second surface 612 according to someembodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, base plate 610 ismade from glass and is laser-welded (joint 640) at one end to the outputend of optical fiber 630 (e.g., in some embodiments, a hollow-corephotonic-bandgap fiber) and at the other end to output lenslets 664, inorder to seal out contaminants from the PCF holes and hollow core offiber 630. In some embodiments, output lenslets 664 have anti-reflectioncoatings at their inner and/or outer surfaces, in order to reducedetrimental reflections. In some embodiments, the length of base plate610 is sufficient such that the length of hollow plate 660 allows outputlenslets 664 to focus the output-signal beam.

FIG. 6A4 is a schematic cross-section view (across plane 670 of FIG.6A1) of an assembly 601 that includes an output meniscus(concave-convex) lenslet 665 for each of a plurality of output beams atsecond surface 612 according to some embodiments of the invention. Insome embodiments, base plate 610 is made from glass and is laser-welded(joint 640) at one end to the output end of optical fiber 630 (e.g., insome embodiments, a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber) and at the otherend to output lenslets 665, in order to seal out contaminants from thePCF holes and hollow core of fiber 630. In some embodiments, outputlenslets 665 have anti-reflection coatings at their inner and/or outersurfaces, in order to reduce detrimental reflections. In someembodiments, the length of base plate 610 is sufficient such that thelength of hollow plate 660 allows output lenslets 665 to focus theoutput-signal beam.

In some embodiments, the composite output beam 177 includes a pluralityof output beams, wherein the shape of the plurality of output beams(i.e., whether the beams are focused, collimated, diverged, polarized,interfering or the like) is based on the geometries of the plurality ofoptical fibers 630 and on the geometry of base plate 610 and thecharacteristics of the optical signals supplied by the optical fibers630. In some embodiments, the composite output light pattern (alsocalled composite “beam”) 177 (e.g., in some embodiments, a plurality ofoutput beams) include a plurality of wavelengths (in some suchembodiments, each one of the plurality of output beams has a uniquewavelength).

FIG. 6B is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 602. In some embodiments, assembly 602 is substantially similarto assembly 601 of FIG. 6A except that the plurality of optical fibers630 in assembly 602 connect directly to the surface of hollow plate 660as opposed to connecting to surface 611 of base plate 610. Theconfiguration of assembly 602 eliminates even more material that wouldhave to be traveled through by the optical signals expanding within baseplate 610.

FIG. 6C is a schematic perspective view of an optical-fiber-arrayassembly 603. In some embodiments, assembly 603 is substantially similarto assembly 601 of FIG. 6A except that base plate 610 further includes aplurality of beam-shaping devices (e.g., in some embodiments, aplurality of lenslets) 650 configured to shape (focus, collimate,diverge, or the like) individual output beams of the composite outputbeam 177 of optical-fiber-array assembly 603. In some embodiments,assembly 603 further includes a plurality of beam-shaping devices 652 atthe input end of hollow plate 660 configured to shape the plurality ofoptical signals entering hollow plate 660 from optical fibers 630.

FIG. 6D is a schematic plan view of optical-fiber-array assembly 603 ofFIG. 6C. In some embodiments, individual optical signals are transmittedthrough optical-fiber-array assembly 603 such that the plurality ofoutput beams associated with the individual optical signals are emittedas collimated output beams 651 from optical-fiber-array assembly 603.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides an apparatus thatincludes a plurality of optical fibers including a first optical fiberand a second optical fiber, wherein the first optical fiber isconfigured to transmit a first optical signal, and wherein the secondoptical fiber is configured to transmit a second optical signal; and afiber-array plate configured to receive the plurality of optical signalsfrom the plurality of optical fibers and emit a composite output beam,wherein the fiber-array plate includes a first surface and a secondsurface, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are configured toconnect to the first surface of the fiber-array plate. In someembodiments, the composite output beam includes a plurality of outputbeams.

In some embodiments, the second surface of the fiber-array plateincludes a plurality of beam-shaping optics configured to shape thecomposite output beam. In some embodiments, the beam-shaping opticsinclude a plurality of lenslets.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a support structureconfigured to support the plurality of optical fibers connected to thefirst side of the fiber-array plate. In some embodiments, the supportstructure is made from a material that includes glass.

In some embodiments, the second side of the fiber-array plate includes aconvex curvature. In some embodiments, the second side of thefiber-array plate includes a concave curvature.

In some embodiments, at least some of the optical fibers are butt weldedto the first surface of the fiber-array plate. In some embodiments, atleast some of the optical fibers are glued to the first surface of thefiber-array plate. In some embodiments, at least some of the opticalfibers are fused to the first surface of the fiber-array plate.

In some embodiments, the first surface of the fiber-array plate includesindicia configured to assist in the alignment of the plurality ofoptical fibers on the first surface of the fiber-array plate. In someembodiments, the indicia include fiber-positioning lines. In someembodiments, the fiber-positioning lines are configured to assist inaligning polarization-maintaining axes of the plurality of opticalfibers. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of optical fibersare shaped such that the polarization-maintaining axes of each one ofthe plurality of optical fibers is aligned with the fiber-positioninglines on the first surface of the fiber-array plate. In someembodiments, the plurality of optical fibers is connected to the firstsurface such that the first optical fiber is substantially parallel tothe second optical fiber. In some embodiments, the plurality of opticalfibers is connected to the first surface such that the first opticalfiber is adjacent and substantially parallel to the second opticalfiber.

In some embodiments, the fiber-array plate is made from a material thatincludes monolithic fused silica.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method thatincludes providing a plurality of optical fibers including a firstoptical fiber and a second optical fiber; providing a fiber-array plate,wherein the fiber-array plate includes a first surface and a secondsurface; connecting the plurality of optical fibers to the first surfaceof the fiber-array plate; transmitting a plurality of optical signalsthrough the plurality of optical fibers and into the fiber-array plateat the first surface of the fiber-array plate; and emitting a compositeoutput beam from the second surface of the fiber-array plate. In someembodiments, the emitting of the composite output beam includes emittinga plurality of output beams.

In some embodiments, the connecting of the plurality of optical fibersincludes butt welding the plurality of optical fibers to the firstsurface of the fiber-array plate. In some embodiments, the connecting ofthe plurality of optical fibers includes gluing the plurality of opticalfibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate.

In some embodiments, the emitting of the composite output beam includesshaping the output beam. In some embodiments, the providing of thefiber-array plate includes providing a convex second surface of thefiber-array plate, wherein the shaping of the composite output beamincludes transmitting the plurality of optical signals through theconvex second surface. In some embodiments, the providing of thefiber-array plate includes providing a concave second surface of thefiber-array plate, wherein the shaping of the composite output beamincludes transmitting the plurality of optical signals through theconcave second surface. In some embodiments, the providing of thefiber-array plate includes providing a plurality of lenslets on thesecond surface of the fiber-array plate, wherein the shaping of thecomposite output beam includes transmitting the plurality of opticalsignals through the plurality of lenslets.

In some embodiments, the method further includes providing a supportstructure; and supporting the plurality of optical fibers using thesupport structure during the connecting of the plurality of opticalfibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate.

In some embodiments, the providing of the fiber-array includes providingindicia on the first surface to assist alignment of the plurality ofoptical fibers during the connecting of the plurality of optical fibersto the first surface.

In some embodiments, an optical-fiber array assembly (OFAA) is used atthe output ends of a plurality of fibers, wherein light is emitted fromthe output ends of the fibers and exits an opposite face of the arrayassembly. In some other embodiments, an optical-fiber array assembly isused at the input ends of a plurality of fibers, wherein light enters aface of the optical-fiber array assembly and a portion of that lightthen exits the optical-fiber array assembly into the input ends of thefibers. In some embodiments, one optical-fiber array assembly is used ateach of two ends of a plurality of fibers, wherein at one OFAA light isemitted from the output ends of the fibers and exits an opposite face ofthe OFAA; another optical-fiber array assembly is used at the input endsof a plurality of fibers, wherein light enters a face of the secondoptical-fiber array assembly and a portion of that light then exits theoptical-fiber array assembly into the input ends of the fibers. In somesuch embodiments, a ring laser is thus implemented (such as shown inFIG. 5B or in the numerous embodiments shown in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/291,031 titled “SPECTRAL-BEAM COMBINING FOR HIGH-POWERFIBER-RING-LASER SYSTEMS” filed Feb. 17, 2009 by Eric C. Honea et al.,which is incorporated herein by reference).

It is specifically contemplated that the present invention includesembodiments having combinations and subcombinations of the variousembodiments and features that are individually described herein (i.e.,rather than listing every combinatorial of the elements, thisspecification includes descriptions of representative embodiments andcontemplates embodiments that include some of the features from oneembodiment combined with some of the features of another embodiment). Italso is specifically contemplated that some embodiments of the inventioninclude supersets and/or subsets of the embodiments and combinationsdescribed herein combined with one or more embodiments of the relatedapplications recited herein, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,539,231,7,471,705, 7,391,561, 7,671,337, and 7,199,924, U.S. patent applicationSer. Nos. 11/565,619, 11/688,854, 12/018,193, 12/624,327, 12/793,508,and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/263,736, 61/343,948, and61/343,945 or any of the other patents, patent applications, andprovisional patent applications listed herein, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference. Further, some embodiments includefewer than all the components described as part of any one of theembodiments described herein.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. Although numerous characteristics andadvantages of various embodiments as described herein have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of various embodiments, many other embodimentsand changes to details will be apparent to those of skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention shouldbe, therefore, determined with reference to the appended claims, alongwith the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Inthe appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used asthe plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and“wherein,” respectively. Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and“third,” etc., are used merely as labels, and are not intended to imposenumerical requirements on their objects.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of opticalfibers configured to transmit a plurality of optical signals, whereinthe plurality of optical fibers includes a first optical fiberconfigured to transmit a first optical signal and a second optical fiberconfigured to transmit a second optical signal; and a fiber-array plateconfigured to receive the plurality of optical signals from theplurality of optical fibers and emit a composite output beam, whereinthe fiber-array plate includes a first surface and a secondoptical-signal-output surface, wherein the plurality of optical fibersare connected to the first surface of the fiber-array plate to providean uninterrupted all-glass propagation path for the plurality of opticalsignals propagating between the plurality of optical fibers and thesecond optical-signal-output surface of the fiber-array plate, whereinthe second surface of the fiber-array plate includes a single convexcurvature for both the first optical signal and the second opticalsignal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a supportstructure configured to support the plurality of optical fibersconnected to the first surface of the fiber-array plate.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the fiber-arrayplate also includes a concave curvature.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the plurality of optical fibers are butt welded to the firstsurface of the fiber-array plate.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of optical fibers are fused to the first surface of thefiber-array plate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstsurface of the fiber-array plate includes indicia configured to assistin the alignment of the plurality of optical fibers on the first surfaceof the fiber-array plate.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theplurality of optical fibers are connected to the first surface such thatthe first optical fiber is substantially parallel to the second opticalfiber.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber-array plate ismade from a material that includes monolithic fused silica.
 9. A methodcomprising: providing a plurality of optical fibers including a firstoptical fiber and a second optical fiber; providing a fiber-array plate,wherein the fiber-array plate includes a first surface and a secondoptical-signal-output surface; connecting the plurality of opticalfibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate; transmitting aplurality of optical signals through the plurality of optical fibers andinto the fiber-array plate at the first surface of the fiber-arrayplate, wherein the connecting includes providing an uninterruptedall-glass propagation path for the plurality of optical signalspropagating between the plurality of optical fibers and the secondoptical-signal-output surface; and emitting a composite output beam fromthe second optical-signal-output surface of the fiber-array plate,wherein the emitting of the composite output beam includes shaping thecomposite output beam, wherein the providing of the fiber-array plateincludes providing a curved second surface of the fiber-array plate, andwherein the shaping of the composite output beam includes transmittingthe plurality of optical signals through the curved second surface. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the connecting of the plurality ofoptical fibers includes butt welding the plurality of optical fibers tothe first surface of the fiber-array plate.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the connecting of the plurality of optical fibers includesfusing the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface of thefiber-array plate.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing ofthe fiber-array plate includes providing a plurality of lenslets on thesecond surface of the fiber-array plate, and wherein the shaping of thecomposite output beam includes transmitting the plurality of opticalsignals through the plurality of lenslets.
 13. The method of claim 9,further comprising: providing a support structure; and supporting theplurality of optical fibers using the support structure during theconnecting of the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface ofthe fiber-array plate.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the providingof the fiber-array includes providing indicia on the first surface toassist alignment of the plurality of optical fibers during theconnecting of the plurality of optical fibers to the first surface. 15.A method comprising: providing a plurality of optical fibers including afirst optical fiber and a second optical fiber; providing a fiber-arrayplate, wherein the fiber-array plate includes a first surface and asecond optical-signal-output surface; connecting the plurality ofoptical fibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate;transmitting a plurality of optical signals through the plurality ofoptical fibers and into the fiber-array plate at the first surface ofthe fiber-array plate, wherein the connecting includes providing anuninterrupted all-glass propagation path for the plurality of opticalsignals propagating between the plurality of optical fibers and thesecond optical-signal-output surface; and emitting a composite outputbeam from the second optical-signal-output surface of the fiber-arrayplate, wherein the emitting of the composite output beam includesshaping the composite output beam, wherein the providing of thefiber-array plate includes providing a single convex second surface ofthe fiber-array plate, and wherein the shaping of the composite outputbeam includes transmitting the plurality of optical signals through thesingle convex second surface.
 16. A method comprising: providing aplurality of optical fibers including a first optical fiber and a secondoptical fiber; providing a fiber-array plate, wherein the fiber-arrayplate includes a first surface and a second optical-signal-outputsurface; connecting the plurality of optical fibers to the first surfaceof the fiber-array plate; transmitting a plurality of optical signalsthrough the plurality of optical fibers and into the fiber-array plateat the first surface of the fiber-array plate, wherein the connectingincludes providing an uninterrupted all-glass propagation path for theplurality of optical signals propagating between the plurality ofoptical fibers and the second optical-signal-output surface; andemitting a composite output beam from the second optical-signal-outputsurface of the fiber-array plate, wherein the emitting of the compositeoutput beam includes shaping the composite output beam, wherein theproviding of the fiber-array plate includes providing a concave secondsurface of the fiber-array plate, and wherein the shaping of thecomposite output beam includes transmitting the plurality of opticalsignals through the concave second surface.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the providing of the fiber-array plate includes providing aplurality of lenslets on the second surface of the fiber-array plate,and wherein the shaping of the composite output beam includestransmitting the plurality of optical signals through the plurality oflenslets.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: providing asupport structure; and supporting the plurality of optical fibers usingthe support structure during the connecting of the plurality of opticalfibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate.
 19. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the providing of the fiber-array includes providingindicia on the first surface to assist alignment of the plurality ofoptical fibers during the connecting of the plurality of optical fibersto the first surface.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the connectingof the plurality of optical fibers includes fusing the plurality ofoptical fibers to the first surface of the fiber-array plate.